Satellite operator Eutelsat has closed down the Africa No 1 radio station, which reaches 20 million people on the continent, after it failed to pay its debts, staff said yesterday. The Gabon-based network, which was founded in 1981, went off the air at 1000 UTC on Wednesday.

“Eutelsat has indeed shut down the service because of debts. The two main shareholders have been informed. We’re trying to pay at least part of the debt to be able to resume our activities. We hope to be back on the air, perhaps tomorrow,” Bashir Abubaker, the station’s director general, told AFP.

According to a management official, Africa No 1 has not paid its dues to Eutelsat since the month of September. The bill is a little less than 200m CFA francs (305,000 euros/450,000 dollars) including penalties for late payment. “Eutelsat sent us letters asking us to settle the debt and then cut us off unilaterally,” said the official, who asked not to be named.

Following severe financial difficulties, in January 2008 Libyan Jamahiriyah Broadcasting (LJB) acquired 52 per cent of the shares in Africa No 1 with the aim of rebuilding the network to broadcast on different frequencies in several languages, including French, English and Arabic, as well as Bambara (widely understood in west Africa) and Swahili (an east African language). The Gabonese state retained 35 per cent of shares and the private sector held the remaining 13 per cent.

However, touted investments never took place and the radio’s operations were interrupted by several strikes. Africa No 1 employs about 20 salaried journalists and about 50 freelance correspondents around the world.

The State We're InJonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective.

This week: A cure for sex offenders?

We ask if there’s a cure for sex offenders. Jesse White tells us about how his assault on an underage girl landed him in jail, and how he feels the chemical treatment he received has turned his life around. We also speak with the doctor who treated Jesse. And just in time for World Press Freedom day, the man known as the father of undercover journalism in Europe talks about a life in character.

First airing: Saturday 02:00 UTC

Earth Beat

Marnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we’re leaving on our planet.

This week: Sharing space in an overcrowded world

From a Mumbai slum to a tiny Beijing apartment, and from communal living in Vancouver to the open expanse of Foula Island in Scotland, we ask how much space people need and how they respond when forced to share.

First airing: Friday 03:00 UTC

Bridges With Africa

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa.

This week:

What's behind the arrest of Uganda's opposition leader Kizza Besigye? Special report on the spread of Al-Qaeda's influence across Africa. Focuss on music of Miriam Makeba.

Nelson Mandela was a fighter - against apartheid, but also in the boxing ring. There are many parallels between his passion for boxing and the struggles to emancipate blacks in South Africa and the US. Mandela did not enjoy the violence, but the science of boxing. Our guest is Eric Brouwer, who wrote a book about Mandela’s passion for boxing.

First airing: Monday 18:00 UTC

South Asia Wired

Programme in which South Asians get to talk to each other, hosted by Dheera Sujan.

This week:

We hear about a website called I Paid a Bribe which is fighting corruption in every day life in India by asking for people’s stories of paying bribes and trying to find systematic approaches to stop corrupt practices. And we hear about why a Dutch missionary is having so much trouble staying in the country he has lived in and loved for more than 40 years.

(There'll be a new edition of the programme on Thursday 5 May)

First airing: Thursday 14:00 UTC

Commonwealth Story

A selection of winning stories chosen from the large number of entries for the 2010 Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

Who says I can’t… is the motto of this year’s collaboration of international broadcasters, offering stories of defiance and perseverance.

This week:

Around one billion people in the world rely on fish as their primary source of protein, but fishermen in many parts of the world are having greater restrictions put on their fishing because of concerns about the level of fish stocks and the marine environment.

For this week’s edition of Global Perspective, BBC World producer Charlotte Smith visits Fred Normandale, one of the few remaining fishermen in the small town of Scarborough in the North East of England, to tell this story from a British perspective on ‘Who says I can’t… fish?’

First airing: Monday 17:30 UTC

HWho says I can’t… is the motto of this year’s collaboration of international broadcasters, offering stories of defiance and perseverance.

This week:

Around one billion people in the world rely on fish as their primary source of protein, but fishermen in many parts of the world are having greater restrictions put on their fishing because of concerns about the level of fish stocks and the marine environment.

For this week’s edition of Global Perspective, BBC World producer Charlotte Smith visits Fred Normandale, one of the few remaining fishermen in the small town of Scarborough in the North East of England, to tell this story from a British perspective on ‘Who says I can’t… fish?’

First airing: Monday 17:30 UTC

Hear the World

Listen to the world’s musical heartbeat on RNW. A brand new world music series hosted by Dheera Sujan.

This week:

Music from Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Brazil. We're also introducing a new item in the show: Africa Unsigned, where we bring you promising young African groups and artists.

First airing: Monday 00:00 UTC

RNW Classical

Classical concerts from the Royal Concertgebouw as well as studio recordings of Dutch performers, presented by Hans Haffmans.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Media Network has been informed that the BBC World Service has no immediate plans to resume the three Hindi shortwave transmissions that have been added to the HFCC transmission schedule with an indicated start date of 1 May 2011. These are so-called ‘wooden’ entries which may be used in the future if additional funding can be found, but at the moment the 1400-1500 UTC transmission is the only one on the air.(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Argentina15345, 0015. SINPO 34433. Radio Nacional Argentina. General Pacheco transmitter site. Multiple station IDs in Spanish by male/female announcers at 0023, followed by advertisement. Latin style music at 0025 to time pips, additional IDs at 0030. Fair signal at S-6/7.(Nick Rumple, Kannapolis, NC)

Australia2368.5, 1325-1335. Radio Symban (presumed).Heard during a brief opening at my local sunrise (1325 UT). Greek songs and music. Recently had been below threshold level, so this was a nice change. Audio clip of music at http://www.box.net/shared/24e4m0acau (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

6035, 1300. PBS Yunnan/Voice of Shangri-La. Usual ID in English as, “this is the Voice of Shangri-La, brought to you by Yunnan Radio." Unfortunately the adjacent interference is strongest just at 1300, otherwise this was almost fair in Vietnamese. Recently their reception has been well above the norm.(Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

Gabon9580, 0530. SINPO 44333. Africa No. 1 via Moyabi. French service with many station IDs, followed by newscast at 0532. Good signal with static S-7. (Nick Rumple, Kannapolis, NC/ptsw)

Greece11645, 0455. Radio Filia. Carrier on, 0456 cut, into talk in Greek. Listened right through until 0554 sudden sign-off. All in Greek - no English and no BBC relay noted today, mostly news and talks in Greek with folk music every ten minutes. Several IDs as “Radio Filia,” and one “Foní tis Athínas” Station ID. Signal very good. (Harold Sellers-BC, Canada)

Guatemala4055, 0533. Radio Verdad (Chiquimula). Spanish. Presumed reception with just a hint of inspirational music making it thru the mud. Poor signal quality. (Joe Wood,TN).

India4970, 1255-1315. All India Radio-Shillong. DJ in English with the Tuesday program, Heart to Heart playing easy-listening love songs (If Ever You're In My Arms Again) Public service annoouncements for having regular eye exams. Time check (“6:45”), 1315 into Hindi. Reception well above the norm till 1345 tune out.(Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

9425, All India Radio-Bengaluru-National Channel. Confirmed the new schedule for their program in English, “Vividha”. Now on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In the past was only Monday and Wednesday-on from 1435 (just after the news in English) till 1500. Often presenting an interesting program.(Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

Indonesia3344.97, 1302-1402. RRI Ternate. It’s Thursday so it’s the “Bali International English Club” show, today was solely a self serving promotion of their own English Learning Center. Almost fair signal. Even with all the self advertisement, I still found this entertaining. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

9525.96, *0955-1015. Voice of Indonesia, Abrupt sign on in listed Korean in progress. Theme music to intro listed in English at 1000, but signal too weak to actually ID language. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Malaysia7295, 1153. Traxx FM. Must be a regular show in English. Islamic program noted as, Reflections. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

Wai FM via RTM on a new frequency of 6100, April 25, assume via Kajang, near Kuala Lumpur, but this needs to be confirmed; 1541-1600. In vernacular, with classic pop song (Deep Purple's Smoke On The Water, and ballads in vernacular. On-air phone calls and many IDs. Fair signal - // 11665 (not // 9835).(Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

9835, 1300-1313. Sarawak FM via Kajang. Two time pips to 1300, then time check for 9:00 ("Sembilan [waktu?]), followed by news in Bahasa Malaysia, and a one-minute anmt at 1310. Back to local programming at 1311 with a "Sarawak FM" jingle and regional pop mx. Good signal. (John Wilkins-CO/Cumbre DX)

Mongolia12085, 0959-1057.* Voice of Mongolia. Tune-in to station interval signal. Talk in unidentified language at 1000. Some lite instrumental music. Interval signal at 1029 followed by nice English ID announcement and into half hour English program. News at 1031. Local music. Abrupt sign off. Very weak at tune-in and too weak to identify the language at that time, but improved to a stronger level by 1025. Signal best between 1025-1045. Started to get noisy after 1045. Thanks to Dave Valko tip. (Brian Alexander, PA)

New Zealand11725, 0631-0643. Radio NZ International, (Rangitaki). Interview of woman concerning financial acumen and the capital requirements of getting a product from inception to market. Talk about the horse racing industry in North America. Segment concerning New Zealand poets writing about WW II. Very good signal. (Joe Wood, TN).

Nigeria15120, 0643-0700. Voice of Nigeria (Ikorodu). Several station ID’s. Program of electronic jazz and African music followed by program, Celebrations. Good signal. (Joe Wood, TN).

Oman15140, 1411-1423. Radio Sultanate of Oman. Thursday show in English with lady DJ (not Adam as usual, but she did have a British accent) playing pop songs. Poor signal quality (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

Papua New Guinea5960, 1003. Radio Fly. Tok Pisin/English. Pop music to male announcer. Island music and call-in program. Audible almost every day here in the center of North America. Fair signal, more than 1 kw now? (Wendal Craighead-Kansas)

3205, 1028. Radio Sandaun (West Sepik) Happy to report them back on the air again. Faint signal, island pop songs, 1040-1053 female/male announcers in conversation. At 1102 became // 3385 (NBC East New Britain) with PNG birdcall and national news in English. Erratic schedule.(Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

4790, 0550-0603. Radio Visión, Chiclayo. After several weeks I can't listen to it, today on air in the early morning with good signal here in the northwestern Spain. Religious songs in Spanish and comments by male: "La Voz de la Salvación". SINPO 24432. (Manuel Méndez, Spain/HCDX)

6019.215, 0953-1000. Radio Victoria. Lots of interference on frequency from Radio Australia, but noted male's Spanish comments. Not much else heard due to noise, signal poor. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Russia12070, 0358-0405. Radio Rossii (Taldom-Severnyj). Russian with multiple IDs and announcements. Station ID by male announcer on the hour at the scheduled sign-on time. Newscast during poor signal with fading. Signal improving over time. (Jim Evans, TN)

Rwanda15275, 0624-0630. Deutsche Welle's Kigali relay. Program, News Link with news of German workers marching in “Easter Parades” to protest nuclear weapons, and German workers being required to take Good Friday and Easter Monday off without pay. Station ID and sign-off announcements.Very good signal. (Joe Wood, TN)

Thailand9890, *1230-1259.* Radio Thailand. English service with national news, business news, and ads. Station off abruptly at 1259. Also heard on Apr 21, coming on at 1230 but playing Thai vocal and instrumental music with no announcements to 1253, when several ads (Crystal Design Center, a trade company, and one or two others) in American-accented English were noted. Program about Thai culture followed at 1256. Off in mid-sentence at 1259:30. Fair signal both days but fadey and hard to copy at times.(John Wilkins-CO/Cumbre DX)

Here is an email from the Radio Fly radio technician at Kiunga, Roseanne Kulupi Roseanne. Kulupi@oktedi.com, who indeed would like to hear from other shortwave listeners:

“Easter Greetings to you all the way from PNG. I hope this email finds you well. Thank you for your email. It's great to know you are receiving our signal there in California. We've also received a couple of emails from listeners in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and a couple of other countries as well.

I apologise for 3915 kHz frequency being off air. The transmitter had been faulty for some time and just recently got repaired and is on its way back to site. We should have it back on air, hopefully in a week or two weeks time.

Thank you once again for your email and I look forward to more emails from you and other shortwave listeners of California. Have a safe day. Kind Regards,Roseanne

(Ron Howard, Monterey, CA/Cumbre DX)

Additional observations for Radio Fly3915, Radio Fly, Kiunga. Status report is that the transmitter that has been silent for some time now. Transmitter site for both 3915 and 5960 is Kiunga, a port town on the Fly River, about 85 miles south of Tabubil. Per their radio technician, the 3915 transmitter has been repaired, but needs to be re-installed at Kiunga. Also the circuit breaker for the Aircon tripped and needs attention. She did try to reset it, but it only held for about 2-5 minutes before tripping again. She suggested it would be good to have both aircons working, before they re-install the second transmitter.(Howard,Apr 13)

5960, Radio Fly, Kiunga, 0915-1120, Apr 07, 08 and 09, news, sports recap of the just concluded rugby match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Sydney Roosters played in New Zealand, 0925 DJ in Tok Pisin with island pop songs; “Here now is Radio Fly’s Community …” with public service ann in Tok Pisin about such things as training programs, song by Foreigner “Feels Like The First Time”, "Tequila Sunrise" by the Eagles, DJ took calls after nearly every song. Signal peaked at 1120. (Herkimer in Dxplorer, Howard)(DX Window 426)

David Cameron, the British prime minister, was in Brussels meeting the press last October when he took a few moments to make fun of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

“Good to see that costs are being controlled everywhere,” Mr. Cameron said as he directed a mocking glance at three BBC correspondents, each from a different BBC program, covering his news conference.

The implication: Considering that the BBC has agreed to freeze most of its public funding for six years, effectively sentencing itself to a 16 percent budget cut through 2017, it surely could have looked harder at its staffing needs for the event.

Captain Morgan captainmorganshortwave@gmail.com6926.07 AM, 2333-2357. Nice signal here into northwestern Florida, however, hard to understand at times. SINFO 2334 Heavy metal music with steel guitar type stuff..have no idea of the title. Some lead in from the Twilight Zone theme, 2337 Wild, Wild, Wild,Women, a guess to 2344 station ID by Capt. Morgan. Stones' Jumping Jack Flash, followed by Brown Sugar. Captain Morgan station ID again, followed by a few bars of Under the Boardwalk tune and signal gone! Thanks for the great show. Please QSL (Rob Kivell, Gulf Breeze Fl)

Crystal Ship6815.6 AM, 0030-0045. Had a zero beat on 6815.6 and some (very) faint music. Tried both antennas. From 0046, on suddenly, an S8 signal! Music to male vocals. Pirate talk with Elmer Fud. Station ID at 0058. (Hunsicker, PA)

Radio Appalachia6935.6 AM, 2345-0051. Fair signal S9max. Some signal fade and static. Announcer Mentioned "broadcasting from high atop moundsville West Virginia" and "free voice of the Ohio Valley." Bluegrass music including religious, 3 Stooges sound clips including "quiet numskulls I'm broadcastin." Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire tune and I Walk the Line before live audience. Good program. (Wm Hassig-IL)

Radio Mushroom6925 USB, 0032. A bit noisy but very good signal. Rock tune, American Woman. Station ID at 0033, the only station powered by nuclear power. Identification at 0038hammered by a modem. SIO 433. (Al Fansome, PA)

Renegade Radio6925 AM, 0052-0152. SINPO 45434. Operator's sign on with talk about Ronin and Morgan. Mentioned he is doing a relay from WEAK till 0124, then some rock.(Ragnar)

The Big Q1710 AM the Big Q heard here this morning with oldies and IDs. Can send a reception report if you want to include AM pirates. I'd love to know even what state it's in. My guess is actually Michigan. It's been heard in at least Ontario, Michigan and Manitoba. (Sam Chernos)

WBNY Relay Service6950 AM, 2223-2305.* Fair signal with Ragnar's Pirates' eek podcast. It was followed by Radio Shrunken Head (60's tunes like Arthur Brown's Fire, Canned Heat's tune Work Together). At 2305 changed to the Voice of Next Thursday. Also heard shows by Metro Radio International and Channel Z. (Greg Majewski-CT)

WFZY Fuzzy Radio6925 USB, 0330-0350. Country & Western music, signal just barely audible through the mud. Followed by two SSTV with station ID's. Noted remarkable difference in signal strength and clarity over the course of a few minutes. (Jenkins-TX)

Today's amateur radio post, represent a portion of ongoing and upcoming special event broadcast for amateur radio. Special event station QSLing are available for ham and shortwave listener's.

April 25-309A - Leo, S50R will be active as 9A/S50R from Lastovo Island (EU-016)on 25-30 April. QSL via home call, direct or bureau, and LoTW.[TNX rsgbiota.org]

April 25-May 34J - YL2GM will be active as 4K3AC from Azerbaijan from 25 April to 3 May. He will operate CW, SSB and RTTY on all bands with 100 watts.QSL via YL2GM. [TNX NG3K]

April 26 - May 5YV - Celebrating the birthdays of Samuel F. B. Morse and Guglielmo Marconi, special event stations 4M5CW and 4M5M will be active on 27 and 30 April respectively. QSL both calls via W4SO (maildrop). ZA - Mitko, LZ1UQ and Andy, LZ2HM will be active as ZA/LZ1UQ and ZA/LZ2HM from Albania from 26 April to 5 May. They will operate CW, SSB and RTTY on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL via home call.[TNX NG3K]

April 27 - May 6VR, YB - Vincent, F4BKV will be "casually active" as VR2/F4BKV from mainland Hong Kong from 27 April to 6 May, and as YB9/F4BKV from Bali Island (OC-022) on 7-9 May. His preferred modes are SSB and PSK. QSL via home call, direct or bureau, and LoTW. Logsearch and Online QSL Request System for bureau cards can be found at www.f4bkv.net [TNX DX World]

April 28 - May 69G - Kees, PE1KL and Lisa, PA2LS will be active as 9G5LK from Ghana from 28 April to 6 May. They will operate SSB, digital modes and CW on 80-10 metres. QSL via PA2LS, direct or bureau, and LoTW.They have a website at www.pe1kl-pa2ls.com [TNX NG3K]

April 29 - May 1LA - Bjorn, LA5UKA and Trond, LA9VDA will be active as LA6Q from IOTA group EU-079 from 29 April to 1 May. They will operate CW, SSB and RTTY on 80-10 metres. QSL via LA9VDA, direct or bureau (email requests for bureau cards can be sent to la9vda[at]gmail.com

OE - The Amateur Radio Section of ORF (the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation) and the Documentary Archives Radio Communications/QSL Collection will operate special event station OE11M from 29 April to 1 May. This is an official "International Marconi Day" station and contacts made on 30 April will be valid for the IMD Award. QSL via the OE bureau or direct to OE1WHC. [TNX OE1WHC]

April 30 EI - The Cork Radio Club will be active as EI5IMD on 30 April from the original Marconi site at Brow Head. The station will be active on all bands CW and SSB. QSL via EI9FBB, bureau or direct. [TNX Southgate ARC]

GW - Phil, MW0DHF and Ken, GW1FKY will be active as GB4MBC (Marconi's Birthday Celebration) from Flat Holm Island (EU-124) on 30 April. They plan to operate on many of the HF bands and amateur satellites when access is possible. QSL via MW0DHF. [TNX Southgate ARC]

April 30 - May 7F - Didier, F4ELJ will be active as F4ELJ/p from Noirmoutier Island(EU-064) from 30 April to 7 May. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [TNX rgsbiota.org](DX News # 1042)

In our program today, we continue on from where we left off last week in the story of wireless and radio in Argentina. You will remember also that this was in response to a request from Jean Barbat in Beaumont, France; and so we take up the story today, with the shortwave radio scene. It was somewhere around the late 1920s that the first radio broadcasts from Argentina were noted on shortwave. At the time, there were two shortwave communication stations active, one at Monte Grande and the other at Hurlingham. The subsequent callsigns at Monte Grande were:- LQA LQB LQC LSA LSC & LSD,and we would suggest therefore that six shortwave transmitters were in operation, each rated at probably 10 kW. The subsequent callsigns at Hurlingham were:- LQR LSL LSM LSN & LSP,and we would suggest therefore that five shortwave transmitters were in operation, each rated, again, at probably 10 kW. It is noted that there were occasional shortwave broadcasts on the air from both locations, Monte Grande & Hurlingham, usually for special occasions, and sometimes there were occasional relays of mediumwave programs for network relay to country locations. Around the same era, some of the mediumwave stations in Argentina were also installing their own shortwave transmitters. One of the well heard communication transmitters that often carried radio programming during the 1930s was the 10 kW LSX on 10350 kHz. This station was operated by Transradio Internacional and they issued attractive QSL cards to listeners in North America, Europe & the South Pacific for these broadcasts.

All through these eras, the total number of shortwave broadcast stations on the air in Argentina in any one year was usually around a dozen, with most of them and sometimes all of them, as part of the government owned radio networks.

Among the well known shortwave networks were:- Radio El Mundo LRU at 7½ kW & LRX at 10 kW Radio del Estrado LRA at 1 kW & 10 kW Radio Splendid LRS at 10 kW Radio Belgrano with callsigns LRY 5 kW in Argentina, & ZPA 5 kW in Paraguay

The official government operated international shortwave service was inaugurated on April 11, 1949 with the usage of two transmitters rated at 50 kW each. Nine years later, this international broadcasting service was renamed as Radiodifusion Argentina al Exterior, RAE Internacional. Programming was taken from mediumwave LRA with studios in the Central Post Office building, though a new self contained studio building was constructed in 1980. In 1977, a Harris 100 kW transmitter was added to the facility known as the General Pacheco Transmitter Plant. Then, six years later again, RAE took over the five shortwave transmitters, rated at 1 kW, 7½ kW, & 10 kW, that were previously on the air as Radio El Mundo. These days, RAE is listed with three shortwave transmitters, two at 50 kW & one at 100 kW; and, as was stated recently, they did not close their international shortwave broadcasting service at the end of last year after all. RAE has always been noted as a good verifier of listener reception reports.

Voice of America Relays in ArgentinaIt is probable that every radio broadcasting station in Argentina, mediumwave & shortwave, carried a relay of programming from the Voice of America in Washington DC in those earlier years. During the early 1940s, the shortwave programming from NBC in New York was relayed off air by 130 stations in South America, including Argentina; Crosley programming in Cincinnati was relayed by 28 stations; and CBS had their relay network down there also. From February 1, 1942 onwards, all of this relay programming formed a part of the Voice of America network. Beginning on May 4, 1942, the VOA took out a specific 13 week relay via the eleven station network of Radio El Mundo in Argentina, and this included shortwave LRX with two transmitters rated at 7 kW & 10 kW. Then, in May 1943 for example, station LSN2, a feeder transmitter at Hurlingham, was noted in New Zealand on 9890 kHz with a relay from CBS in New York. This had to be a VOA program produced by CBS, and it would appear that Buenos Aires was relaying this programming on shortwave for rebroadcast by local mediumwave stations in countryside areas.

Adventist World Radio in Asia - RAE Relay & QSL CardsAs an interesting side note, Adventist World Radio at one stage issued a valid QSL card on behalf of RAE Internacional in Argentina. By previous arrangement, a special program segment was inserted into the old AWR DX program, “Radio Monitors International”, on behalf of RAE in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This program was broadcast on international shortwave on August 12, 1984 by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, as well as by some of their Home Service stations on shortwave, mediumwave and FM. RAE Argentina sent 200 QSL cards to the AWR-Asia office in Poona India, in two different designs, and these were issued to verify the special broadcast back a quarter of a century ago.(AWR Wavescan/ NWS # 113 via Adrian Peterson)

Countries on Back Order: Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Monaco and OmanCountries In Stock Again are Hong Kong, Macedonia, Philippines, Kuwait and Suriname

New price: Japan now $1.50, see new special listed below.

New rates noted:Guernsey now 52p DOWN from 55pIsle of Man now 76p up from 67pJersey will increase from 55p to 59p in early MayAustralia; Now $2.25 up from $2.20Denmark was 9,50 for A rate. Now A rate is 13kr and B rate is 11kr. Danish website sez A rate 1-2 day delivery and B rate 2-3 day delivery. We will now offer both on our pricelist, as well as the A and B rates for two other Scandinavian countries:Denmark A-$2.80Denmark B-$2.40Finland A-$1.50Finland B-$1.20Iceland A-$2.70Iceland B-$1.90The difference between A & B rates of Greenland and Norway are small, so we'll only offer A rate.

Include a self-addressed-envelope for his current price list or request a price list via email at plumdx@msn.com. The prices represent Airmail rate to North America. Prices are subject to change without notice. No mimimum order via check, money order or credit card, but credit card orders under $ 15.00 will incur a $ 2.00 extra charge. Visa, MC, AMEX are accepted. Please include billing and shipping address for AMEX.

Don't forget the DX supplies include European Airmail envelopes (European Air Return and European Air Mailer). These envelopes are perfectly acceptable for mailing to ALL parts of the world, not just to Europe. Their size insures you that a 4"x6" DX QLSs will not come back to you folded which could happen if you used small U.S. sized airmail envelopes. Bill's European Air Return fits into a European Air Mailer without folding. These two envelopes and up to 5 QSL cards weigh less than one ounce. The European Air Return and 2 QSLs weigh less than 10 grams. All envelopes are sealed in plastic for protection. Envelopes are packed 100 per size per package. The 5-/50 Combo comes in one package.

I have used Bill's service for years and find his prices affordable and dependable. All stamps are enclosed within a glassine envelope, so no worries of stamps sticking to the letter, and you can enclose the stamps as is in the letter to the station.

On 30 March 1977 Radio Nederland (as we were then called in English) broadcast a special programme marking our 30th anniversary, and 50 years since the first shortwave broadcast from the Netherlands. The complete programme is now available to listen to/download from the RNW Historical Audio Archive. Here’s a synopsis of the programme:

* Hendrik (Henk) van den Broek, Radio Nederland’s first director, recorded in 1955, explains why Radio Nederland was set up.* The origin of Dutch overseas broadcasting goes back to 1927, the pioneering year of shortwave telephony. The Philips Laboratories in Eindhoven experiment with the PCJJ short-wave transmitter. The transmissions reach as far as the East-Indies. Mr. A C de Groot, a technical official of the Netherlands East Indies PTT and a radio amateur, is sitting up all night monitoring the 30 metre band in the hope of hearing amateurs operating in morse code from The Netherlands. Somewhere around 3:00 AM, he hears a voice speaking in Dutch saying “This is an experimental transmission from the Philips Laboratory in Eindhoven, Holland, on a wavelength of 30.2 metres”.* That same year, the NV PHOHI (Philips Omroep Holland-Indië) was set up, a joint commercial operation of Philips and other Dutch Companies with interests in the East-Indies. It used the PCJJ transmitter.* In November 1928, Edward (Eddie) Startz began broadcasting over PCJJ, marking the beginning of his popular “Happy Station” programme. Startz dropped the second J of PCJJ and said that PCJ stood for “Peace, Cheer and Joy: The Happy Station of a friendly nation”.* Engineer Martin Ruis speaks about the closure of the shortwave transmissons because of the invasion of the German Army in May 1940. They tried to destroy the transmitter, but later on the Germans succeeded in reparing the PCJJ-equipment, and used it to broadcast propaganda to India (”The Voice of Free India”).* Paris and London took over when broadcasts from Hilversum ended: The Dutch first used the French shortwave service for a programme called “Vrij Nederland”. That ended after a month with the German invasion of Paris. Over in London the Dutch Government in exile in late 1940 created “Radio Oranje”, the official voice of the Dutch Government.* Fragment of a Radio Oranje transmission: Bob den Doolaard speaks about sabotage (in Dutch).* Unknown Dutch speaker about listening to Radio Oranje and the BBC during the war.* Hendrik van den Broek became head of Radio Oranje and in 1944 he created a station called “Herrijzend Nederland” in the grounds of the Philips Company in Eindhoven. When the whole of The Netherlands was liberated he moved his operation to Hilversum. Radio Nederland was born.* On 15 April 1947 the private non-profit foundation Stichting Radio Nederland Wereldomroep was founded, after many discussions about the future of Dutch broadcasting.* Short quote from Queen Wilhelmina about the end of Dutch rule in Indonesia.* The story of Radio Netherlands in the fifties and beyond.* Eddie Startz with the Happy Station station in Spanish, French and English.* Technical expert Jim Vastenhoud talks about technological developments and the future of shortwave radio.(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Philippine FM radio station RJ UR 105.9 will soon go off the air to vacate the frequency it has been leasing. But the young station is taking its rock programming to Facebook, reports the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Currently on test broadcast, the station, now known as UR Faceradio, has opened its own page on the most popular social networking site.

“I think we’re the first radio station in the Philippines to broadcast direct from Facebook,” said owner Ramon Jacinto II. Mr Jacinto explained that UR’s migration to Facebook would allow listeners to see the DJ at the booth as well. He added that UR Faceradio would be totally interactive in real time soon.

UR Faceradio will be launched on 28 May with six simultaneous concerts on live streaming.

A new generation of managers is taking the reins at the US government’s radio and TV broadcasts into Cuba, promising to overhaul the stations’ programming in an effort to make them more relevant and reach a younger audience. The overhaul coincides with broader policy changes, as President Barack Obama has shifted from the Bush-era tactic of advocating the overthrow of Fidel Castro’s communist government to encourage more cultural and economic exchanges.

Carlos Garcia-Perez, a 43-year-old Cuban-American attorney, took over the Office of Cuba Broadcasting in October. Unlike the Martí founders and most directors since, he is from Puerto Rico, not the anti-Castro exile enclave of Miami. He wasn’t even born when the last Martí director, exile Pedro Roig, participated in the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961.(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The State We're InJonathan Groubert and his team look at current events from an unexpected perspective.

This week: Confronting History

A British man finds out his grandfather was not only a card-carrying Nazi, but a dedicated member of the SS. After a young neo-Nazi skinhead in Poland discovers his Jewish roots, he turns to a rabbi for guidance. And an Egyptian man who fled Egypt is now considering moving back to be with his son after living apart for eight years.

First airing: Saturday 02:00 UTC

Earth BeatMarnie Chesterton and her team look at the footprint we’re leaving on our planet.

This week:

The wet stuff, and how our dependence on it can land us in hot water. From building houses out of water bottles and swimming the world’s biggest rivers to seriously cutting back on it, Earth Beat examines our increasingly fraught relationship with H2O.

First airing: Friday 03:00 UTC

Bridges With AfricaWe're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa.

This week:

Speculation grows over the health of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. African cities of the future revealed. A touch of the blues from Zimbabwe's Rina Mushonga.

Tom Dietz says that our continent is lined with silver. Our economies are booming, our population is young, and lives longer. Prof Dietz is the director of the Africa Studies Centre which is attached to Leiden University in the Netherlands. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious centers for the study of Africa in the world, where many African scholars are being trained. With him we find out what makes the continent so fascinating for the rest of the world.

First airing: Monday 18:00 UTC

South Asia WiredProgramme in which South Asians get to talk to each other, hosted by Dheera Sujan.

Programme bringing the full story behind the news from the region.

(There'll be a new edition of the programme on Thursday 28 April)

First airing: Thursday 14:00 UTC

Commonwealth StoryA selection of winning stories chosen from the large number of entries for the 2010 Commonwealth Short Story Competition.

This week:

Swallow Dive - by Melissa Madore from Canada. A moving story of loneliness and death.

First airing: Tuesday 00:55 UTC

Global PerspectiveWho says I can’t… is the motto of this year’s collaboration of international broadcasters, offering stories of defiance and perseverance.

This week:

Elkader is a small town in the center of the American Midwest. It’s not where you’d expect to find a gay couple starting an Algerian restaurant. But this town in Iowa was named after a 19th-century Algerian jihadist. In this episode of the Global Perspective series “Who Says I Can’t”, we find out how the residents of this small Iowa town have found their own path through the Islamophobia debate.

First airing: Monday 17:30 UTC

Hear the WorldListen to the world’s musical heartbeat on RNW. A brand new world music series hosted by Dheera Sujan.

This week: Caribbean sounds.

We listen to the music from the islands of Cuba and Curaçao.

The Cuban pianist Omar Sosa represents the New Cuban Jazz, mixed in a richly coloured palette of Afro-Cuban rhythms with intriguing improvisations and rich jazz harmonies. In the Cuban foundation of his work, elements of classical music, avant garde and even rap as well as influences from Africa, Latin America, the United States and Europe can be heard. It is music with its own, completely unique, identity.

In early November 2002, we recorded a splendid concert by the Cuban singer Polo Montanez at the Nijmegen Music Meeting, just weeks before his tragic death in a car accident in Cuba. With a style which swings between bolero, mambo and salsa he creates an intense variation of West Cuban folk music with melodic songs about love and longing and about the ordinary lives of Cuban farmers.

First airing: Monday 00:00 UTC

RNW ClassicalClassical concerts from the Royal Concertgebouw as well as studio recordings of Dutch performers, presented by Hans Haffmans.

Available 24 hours a day via our sister web station RNWclassical.com.

Radio Netherlands English scheduleAll times UTCtarget areas: af (Africa) as (Asia)0959-1000 12065as 15110as

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Don't Cry for Me Argentina: The Radio Scene in South American Argentina

It was announced during the month of January, that RAE Argentina, Radiodifusion Argentina Al Exterior, the international shortwave broadcasting service in Argentina, is not closing after all, but instead will continue its international service on shortwave. Then too, during our listener contest last year, one listener asked for a station profile on an interesting shortwave station in South America, and another specifically asked for similar information regarding RAE Argentina. In response to all three of these matters, in our program today, we begin a two part feature on radio broadcasting in Argentina. We have chosen as the title for this topic, “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, which is reminiscent of a powerful melody with remarkable lyrics. This week, we speak on early wireless and radio in Argentina; and next week, on the shortwave service RAE in particular; and also, Voice of America relays in Argentina.

Argentina is a large country in South America with a population of 40 million people. The country is 2,300 miles long and 1,000 miles wide, with Buenos Aires on the north coast as its capital city, and Ushaia down south on the nearby island of Terra del Fuego, as the most southerly town in the world. The famous Iguacu Falls on the border with Brazil, 237 feet high and 2 miles wide, are a major tourist attraction, as are the beaches along the Atlantic coast. In its early pre-history, several Indian cultures lived in tribal areas within Argentina, though not as densely populated as further north. Just before the arrival of the first Europeans, the Inca Empire invaded the area of what is today northwest Argentina. The first European to land in Argentina was the Spanish explorer, Juan de Solis, who arrived at the Rio de la Plata in 1516. Over the years, there were several attempts at establishing viable settlements in Argentina; and in 1542, Spain exerted control over all Spanish settlements in South America, organizing all of them into one large colonial administration. In 1816, Argentina declared its independence from Spain as the United Provinces of La Plata; and in 1881 Patagonia in the south was absorbed into Argentina, thus establishing the boundaries of Argentina pretty well as we know them today. On the wireless scene, it was on August 4, 1906, that the Argentine Marconi Company was formed for business in both Argentina & Uruguay. Four years later, Marconi himself visited Buenos Aires in Argentina, and while there he installed a rudimentary transmission device, which included a kite for use as the aerial, and a set of earphones. The location was the southern suburb of Bernal and the year was 1910. With this simple apparatus, Marconi succeed in communicating with Canada & Ireland. During the year 1910, an official list of wireless stations shows a total of eight on the air throughout Argentina, including a fixed facility at this same Bernal location under the callsign MBL. Construction work for a huge new wireless station at Monte Grande, some 12 miles from Buenos Aires, began in 1918. The main transmitting station was developed on a property of 1200 acres, and two low frequency transmission alternators were installed. The antenna system for this wireless giant, nearly two miles in length, was supported on ten towers imported from France & Germany, each 680 ft tall. The counterpoise earthing system consisted of a buried network of wires, as well as a system of wires, 30 ft above ground level. The Monte Grande Wireless Station was officially opened for international service in January 1924 under the callsign LPZ. The corresponding stations in overseas countries were located in New York, Paris & Berlin. The receiver station in Argentina was located at Villa Eliza, 20 miles from Buenos Aires. The two Alexanderson alternators installed at the Monte Grande communication station were in continuous usage until they were de-commissioned seven years later in 1931. By that time, a bevy of shortwave transmitters had been installed at this location. The broadcast of radio programming had a very early beginning in Argentina. A man by the name of Enrique Susini, together with three friends, established a make shift radio studio in the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires which was under renovation at the time. They constructed a small 5 watt radio transmitter, erected an antenna wire from the theatre building to the dome of a neighboring building, and hooked in a microphone normally used by people with a hearing loss. At 8:30 pm on August 27, 1920, the opening announcement was made in the Spanish language stating that the Radio Argentina Society was presenting the opera Parsifal by Richard Wagner. This live radio broadcast was taken from the stage of the theatre and it was heard by an estimated radio audience of less than 20 people, including a ship way up north off the coast of Brazil. The local newspaper, La Razon, published a raving review of the event, and the President of the nation, Hipolito Yrigoyen, commended the group for their initiative in producing Argentina’s first radio broadcast. During the next 19 days, many more radio broadcasts were presented over the little 5 watt transmitter and temporary aerial wire, including two of Verdi’s operettas, Aida & Rigoletto. Over a period of time, Radio Argentina grew until it became a widespread network throughout the whole nation, until its demise ¾ of a century later, at the end of December 1997. These days, Argentina is on the air from 1½ thousand AM mediumwave and FM radio stations that provide virtually total coverage to the entire population of their country. According to the World Radio TV Handbook, Radio Nacional operates two high powered mediumwave stations at 100 kW each, LRA1 on 870 kHz for capital city coverage & LRA7 on 750 kHz at Cordoba, for regional coverage inland in the center of the northern part of the country. In our program next week, we will present the shortwave story in Argentina, including the development of their international broadcasting station RAE, as well as the network of Voice of America, VOA, relay stations in Argentina. We will also call the listener, Jean Barbat in France, who made the request for this particular feature. (AWR Wavescan/NWS 112 via Adrian Peterson)

Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Low activity occurred during 11 - 14 April with C-class flares from Regions 1185 (N18, L=025, class/area Cso/100 on 05 April), 1190 (N13, L=338, class/area Eki/440 on 16 April), and 1193 (N17, L=266, class/area Eai/430 on 17 April). Activity increased to moderate levels on 15 April due to an M1/1f flare at 15/1712 UTC from Region 1190 associated with minor discrete radio emission. Region 1190 showed gradual spot growth during 12 - 15 April and displayed a beta-gamma magnetic configuration, then began to gradually decay on 16 April. Region 1193, which also contained a beta-gamma magnetic configuration, showed gradual spot growth during 13 - 17 April. An Earth-directed coronal mass ejection was observed early on 15 April, associated with a filament disappearance from the northeast quadrant late on 14 April. Estimated plane-of-sky velocity was for the CME was 390 km/s, based on an analysis of SOHO/LASCO coronagraph images. Activity decreased to low levels during 16 - 17 April with C-class flares from Regions 1185, 1190, and 1193.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels during 11 - 13 April. Fluxes increased to moderate to high levels during 14 - 16 April, then decreased to normal to moderate levels during 16 - 17 April.

Geomagnetic activity was at quiet to active levels on 11 April. Activity increased to quiet to minor storm levels on 12 April with major storm periods observed at high latitudes. Activity decreased to quiet to active levels on 13 April with minor to major storm periods observed at high latitudes. Activity decreased to quiet tounsettled levels on 14 April. A further decrease to quiet levels at all latitudes occurred during 15 - 17 April. ACE solar wind observations indicated the activity during 11 - 13 April was associated with a coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS). he HSS source was an equatorward extension of the southern polar CH. The CH HSS commenced on 11 April following a negative- to positive-polarity solar sector boundary crossing. Velocities increased during 11 - 12 April, eventually reaching a peak of 674 km/s at 12/1940, then gradually decreased during the rest of the period. Interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) changes associated with the onset of the CH HSSincluded increased Bt (peak 17 nT at 11/2001 UTC) as well as increased Bz variability with intermittent periods of southward Bz (maximum deflection -9 nT at 12/0525 UTC). The CH HSS began to gradually subside on 13 April.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 20 April - 16 May 2011

Solar activity is expected to be low with C-class flares likely during the period. There will be a chance for moderate activity (isolated M-class flares) during the second half of the period due to the return of previously active regions.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels during most of the period. However, high flux levels are expected during 22 - 23 April, 30 April - 03 May, and 11 - 13 May.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be to be at quiet to unsettled levels during 20 - 22 April due to weak coronal hole effects on 20 - 21 April and weak coronal mass ejection effects on 22 April (associated with the Earth-directed CME observed on 15 April). Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 23 -27 April. Field activity is expected to increase to quiet to active levels during 28 April - 01 May due to recurrent coronal hole effects. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 02 - 07 May. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to active levels during 08 - 11 May due to recurrent coronal hole effects. Quiet conditions are expected during 12 - 16 May.

The Benghazi-based Voice of Free Libya now has an English-language website at voicefreelibya.blogspot.com. The website links to the live streams of the radio station and Libya Alhurra TV. It also contains summaries and quotes from some of the programmes in Arabic.

On Friday 15 April, a presenter called for action to end pro-Gaddafi broadcasts. “The TV and radio stations of the tyrant are still spitting venom, inciting hatred and sowing seeds of sedition. They twist facts to uphold Al-Gaddafi’s regime. We urge the international community and its organizations to help us strip Al-Gaddafi of the media weapon by suspending TV licences and shutting down his radio stations through cancelling subscriptions to and contracts with the satellites used by these channels.”

Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)

[Xinhua: "China Radio International Signs Cooperation Deal With Turkish National Broadcaster"]

ANKARA, April 18 (Xinhua) - China Radio International (CRI), China’s only radio station running a world service, signed an agreement with Turkey’s national broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) here Monday to step up cooperation in broadcasting. The two sides will exchange programmes, increase staff communication and offer training sessions for each other’s employees, according to the agreement.

CRI President and Editor-in-Chief Wang Gengnian said it was the responsibility of Chinese and Turkish media organizations to promote the development of bilateral ties through media cooperation. “I hope the agreement will be put into practice as soon as possible and we can work together in other potential areas, too,” Wang said at the signing ceremony.

TRT Director General Ibrahim Sahin said TRT and CRI will provide assistance for each other’s resident correspondents working in their countries and have opportunities to jointly produce programmes. “I believe our cooperation will be stronger after the agreement takes effect,” he said.

China Radio International, formerly known as Radio Beijing, was founded on Dec. 3, 1941, with the aim of promoting understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and other countries. As of the end of 2010, CRI offers 2,471 hours of radio programming a day in 61 languages.